Copolymerization of Carbon Monoxide with Ethene Catalyzed by Palladium(II) Complexes of 1,3-Bis(diphenylphosphino)propane Ligands Bearing Different Substituents on the Carbon Backbone

Abstract

In this work are described the syntheses of several new dppp-like ligands (dppp =1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) bearing different substituents on the carbon backbone and of their palladium(II) complexes with acetate or trifluoroacetate coligands (L). The complexes exhibit the general formula Pd(P−P)(L)2 and have been employed as catalyst precursors for the copolymerization of ethene and carbon monoxide in MeOH under experimental conditions that are comparable to those reported in the relevant literature and patents for dppp-based Pd(II) copolymerization catalysts. It has been found that the introduction of alkyl substituents in the 2-position of the carbon backbone of dppp does not significantly improve the performance of the corresponding catalyst precursors (highest productivity value 6.2 kg of copolymer (g of Pd h)-1 vs 5.4 kg of copolymer (g of Pd h)-1 for Pd(dppp)(L)2). In contrast, the productivity increases remarkably when methyl groups are introduced in both 1-positions of the diphosphine liga...